Friday, March 9, 2012

Walnut Nutrition for Health: Walnut Recipes and Allergy

The walnut is a nutrient dense food and has several health benefits. Walnut oil is used as an aromatherapy oil while there are some simple recipes that can help incorporate Walnuts in routine diet. Some individuals are known to be allergic to the nut and there are some precautionary measures that need to be followed.

Walnut for Health

Walnut Nutrition Facts

Walnuts provide the body with mono-saturated fat, vitamin E, manganese, magnesium, phosphorus and arginine. They supply plenty of omega 3 essential fatty acids and alpha linoleic acid. The nut is also a rich source of protein and fiber.

Walnut Health Benefits
Walnut is loaded with several health benefits,

Walnuts are considered food for the brain. According to the doctrine of signature, the walnut resembles the brain and thus has been touted as a ‘brain food’.

Walnuts help lower cholesterol levels considerably. They keep the lipid profile normal, prevent atherosclerosis and maintain healthy functioning of the heart and vasculature.

They provide the body with powerful anti-oxidants. Walnuts are enriched with anti-oxidants which fight free radical damage and detoxify cancer-causing substances.

Walnuts Protect the Heart

Heart Health and Walnuts: Walnut for Cholesterol

A research conducted stated that those who consumed a walnut-enhanced diet had lower levels of total cholesterol, LDL and lipoprotein a. thus walnuts help cut down one’s risk of developing cardiac diseases to a very great extent. Also, the nut provides large quantities of arginine. This amino acid gets converted in to nitric oxide which allows the blood vessels to relax and also checks platelet aggregation; thus staving off cardiovascular disorders.

Walnut Oil : Walnut for Skin Care

The walnut oil has excellent anti-ageing and skin toning properties. It speeds up cell renewal and regeneration and helps protect the skin from external damaging factors (stress, pollution, smoke, erratic lifestyle and sun damage). Walnut oil is especially recommended for mature skins, where it helps deal with fine lines, wrinkles, blemishes, age spots and enlarged pores successfully. The oil is used extensively in most skin care creams, massage oils, hair oils and lip balms.

Walnut Recipes: Walnut Chicken Salad

Walnuts are a delicious addition to savory as well as confectionery dishes. You can add them to stir fries, salads and stuffing. Chopped walnuts are added to most baked goods such as cookies, muffins and brownies. Adding walnuts to your daily menu boosts the nutritive quotient of your diet appreciably.

Combine shredded chicken with 2 tablespoons of mayonnaise, a few diced currants, 5 to 10 chopped walnuts and minced celery. Add some 1 teaspoon of curry powder and mix well.

Caramelized Walnuts: Walnut Recipe

Blend together ½ cup of honey, 3 tablespoons of blackstrap molasses, 1 tablespoon vanilla essence, a pinch of salt and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon. Place 3 cups of rolled oats and 1 cup of chopped walnuts and coat with the mixture. Spread on a baking tray and bake at 140 degrees Celsius for 45 minutes.

Walnut Allergy: Precaution for Walnuts

As a rule, nuts are among the foods more commonly associated with allergic reactions. Frequently seen manifestations of one who is allergic to walnuts are: tingling and numbness in the lips and mouth, hives, cramps in the abdomen, diarrhea, asthma and rarely anaphylaxis.

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About Me

I am a practicing homoeopath, nutritionist, and life style expert. She firmly believes in holistic medicine and the tremendous therapeutic and preventive influence that foods exert in our lives to keep us healthy. Dr. Shweta is also an expert on yoga and effective stress management. As an integrated healer, she has written innumerable articles for various websites and periodicals.